69. I too have lived and

worked in several different countries (mostly in Africa and the Middle East) and I understand where this overall perception of the US populace comes from. I have been asked on many occasions, "is it true that ALL Americans carry guns?"

When the rest of the world reads about the Kansas school board mandating the teaching of "creationism," or the Tea Party's racist birther statements, or about record number of gun deaths in the USA, they tend to believe those facts are representative of ALL Americans.

Because a substantial number (45% - 50%) of Americans vote for Republicans who espouse these right-wing "values" it is entirely understandable why a Swede would write this article.

A large number of Americans ARE willfully stupid, and are proud of being so.